The young girl's smile always warmed hearts. She was endlessly patient with every refugee's request, tirelessly offering help to each one. The other Holy Knights kept a careful distance, ready to protect her instantly if trouble arose. Yet this caution seemed unnecessary—even the most hardened criminals turned docile as kittens under the Holy Maiden's radiance.

The Pantheon's newly appointed Holy Maiden—Vernie Leibentod.

At just sixteen, she had recently ascended to the position. Her family had held noble titles and fiefs for over three generations, but by her time, the title was meaningless ceremony. Aside from relative wealth, they differed little from commoners. Calling her an exceptionally rare "commoner-born" Holy Maiden was no exaggeration.

Three years ago, the Plague erupted globally, catching every nation off guard. It struck too suddenly, too fiercely, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives in moments. The Pantheon, Heavenward Tower, and Knighthood issued emergency alerts almost simultaneously. Their local branches dispatched healers—Sorcerers, potion masters, priests, alchemists—to study outbreaks everywhere. Yet no one could determine the Plague's origin. Pathogens varied by region, making existing healing magic insufficient. Research into new magic and medicines crawled slowly.

Then, in the Plague's second year, the Pantheon discovered that girl.

In Ainivelle Empire's southeast—a neighbor of Arlen Kingdom—one city stood untouched by the Plague amid infected clusters. This caught the local Pantheon's attention. Within a month, the fourteen-year-old gained fame: her exceptional affinity for Holy Magic, unparalleled talent after joining the Pantheon, elders' praise, and achievements eradicating the Plague everywhere. All this built immense prestige. Amid countless calls, she became Holy Maiden in under two years.

Thanks to her frontline efforts against the Plague, major cities of great nations were spared. Now, she was not just a pillar against the disease but a spiritual symbol. Many within the Pantheon supported her.

(But often, too much excellence invites trouble...)

Yaldor rested her hand on her Holy Knight longsword's hilt and sighed softly.

High Priest Shandoba Muller was no one to underestimate. As High Priest, he was capable, but his mastery of power politics was sharper. Had fate not intervened, his daughter would have become Holy Maiden. Instead, Vernie—suddenly emerging—claimed the seat. Though Vernie had remarkable achievements, immense popularity, and was the world's youngest Sorcerer, her experience was shallow. Half her rapid rise came from secret backing by Shandoba's rival factions.

This commoner-born girl, helping refugees with pure goodwill, was ultimately just a pawn in the Pantheon's power games. The truth pained Yaldor deeply.

At dusk—

"...May Life God Rien bestow grace, and Goddess of Abundance Ansuana grant blessings, keeping all beings free from suffering."

In the town square, surrounded by refugees, Vernie finished her prayer's final verse. Holy light radiated from her body. Golden lines formed a complex magic circle over the town, then dissolved into the air.

"There. It's done. No Plague will trouble this place for fifty years."

Vernie stood, looking slightly tired but happy. Refugees cheered, praising her power and virtue as if she were a goddess, not just the Holy Maiden. Vernie smiled, neither accepting nor denying their words. She gently parted the crowd and returned to the caravan.

Only when sure no one could hear her did worry flicker across her face. As Holy Maiden, she must never spread negativity—not even through an expression. She knew this well.

"You've worked hard, Holy Maiden."

"Mm... Thank you, Sister Yaldor."

Vernie took the towel Yaldor offered and wiped sweat from her brow. Even this simple act was mesmerizing. Yaldor, though a woman herself, admired her deeply.

"Um, Sister Yaldor..."

"Yes?"

"I... did I do something wrong?"

"...

The girl carefully folded the towel and sighed. Alone, she could shield settlements from the Plague. But big cities or small towns all took half to a full day. This was her third stop for a minor town—three days behind schedule.

Three days. In a plague-stricken metropolis of hundreds of thousands, how many would die? Exact numbers were unknowable, but surely more than these small towns combined. Saving lives before her eyes cost more lives elsewhere. This... must be wrong. Yet ignoring nearby refugees to save more distant ones—was that right?

"Don't dwell on it, Holy Maiden."

A Holy Knight brought a coat. Yaldor draped it over Vernie's shoulders, smiling wryly. "Some things can't be judged by right or wrong. You may lack experience sometimes, but... Holy Maiden, your goodwill to save everyone is never a mistake."

"Mm... Thank you, Sister Yaldor."

Vernie's gloom eased. She quickly cheered up, comforting the surrounding knights—everyone smiled warmly except Shandoba's forced grin. The caravan then sped off amid farewell cheers, racing toward its destination.

Behind the caravan, knights whispered quietly.

"The Holy Maiden truly worked hard..."

"She's admirable, but isn't she pushing too hard?"

"I think so. Her body will break if this continues."

"She has no close friends in the temple either."

"She's just sixteen. Always busy and lonely like this..."

"Hey! Slacking off?!"

The stern voice made them jump. Yaldor had appeared on horseback beside them, frowning.

"Sorry, Deputy Commander!"

"Even with no road dangers, and the Holy Maiden not minding, you're Holy Knights! Maintain discipline!"

"Really sorry!"

"And... I may not have the right, but the Holy Maiden's affairs aren't your concern."

One knight hesitated. "Deputy Commander... didn't the Holy Maiden mention a childhood friend once? In a small country called Arlen..."

"She did, but I said not to—wait. Arlen?"

Yaldor recalled a report about that "major incident."

"A week ago, Arlen Kingdom had big trouble. Heavenward Tower, the Pantheon, and Knighthood all reacted."

"What trouble could a small nation have? Not the Great Secret Treasure appearing..."

"It was the Great Secret Treasure."

"Eh?!?!?!?!?!?!"

"A major noble secretly held the unformed Great Secret Treasure for centuries. Recently, internal strife caused its loss. It's no secret now—news spread fast when the Treasure's involved."

"Unbelievable... How dared a small nation's noble..."

"The report named the 'Zerah Family'—wait! I said no idle chatter, how did you—"

BANG!!!!

Before Yaldor finished, the moving carriage door slammed open with tremendous force.

Vernie thrust her head out, her expression grave for the first time.

"H-Holy Maiden!?"

"The carriage is moving! Dangerous! Please—"

"Tell me..."

"Huh?"

"The Zerah Family? Sister Yaldor, you said Zerah Family! What happened? Tell me everything!"